Improvement in button-hole attachments for sewing-machines



C. M. BANKS.

BUTTON-HOLE ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MACHINES. No.187,082 Patented. Feb. 6,1877.

UNITED STATES rcE.

PATENT IMPROVEMENT IN BUTTON-HOLE ATTACHMENTS FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 187,082, dated February6, 1877; application tiled September 19, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that 1, CHARLES M. BANKS, of

Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-HoleAttachments for Sewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suehas willenable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and useit, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective of throat-plate.Fig. 2 is a perspective of the presser-foot. Fig. 3 is a perspective ofthe plate. Fig. at is a perspective of my invention. Figs. 5 and 6 arelongitudinal vertical sections. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section.Fig. 8 is a perspective, showing my invention applied to asewing-machine.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple andcomparativelyinexpensive attachment for sewing-machines, by means ofwhich button-holes may be speedily and thoroughly worked. My inventionaccordingly consists in the peculiar construction and combination ofparts hereinafter more fully described, having reference particularly tothe means whereby the needle is caused to descend alternately indifi'erent lines, or at two different points, ascending, however, alwaysin the line it has just descended.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, A designates a metallic block,having an opening, a, for the passage of the needle-bar, to which lattersaid block is firmly secured by a screw, (1. B is an arm slidinglongitudinally in bearings a a in the block A, having a stud, b,projecting through a slot, a by means of which its movement in eitherdirection is limited. 0 is a hanger depending from the arm B, having anopening for the reception of the needle 0, which is held in position bya set-screw, c. D is a friction-pad, the object of which is to bind thebar B and prevent it from moving, except as positively impelled by thedevices now to be described. E represents a standard firmly fastened toor forming an in tegral part of the block A. The outer face of saidstandard is formed with a recess, E, in

which are fastened two springs, e 6, whose free ends meet at e. Frepresents a lever pivoted to the standard E at f, and provided on itsback side with a collar, f having a thin plate or point, f which restsbetween the free ends of the springs e e at the point e. The lower endof the lever F is bifurcated to embrace the pin b which projectsrearwardly from the arm B. G represents another lever pivoted at g tothe lever F, having its lower end bifurcated at g to straddle the pin 1)while its upper extremity is formed with a hook, 9 which moves laterallyin a loop or elongated slot, 6 in the standard E. 9 represents a studhaving two beveled sides, which meet and form an edge, 9 H represents aplate fastened adjustably by means of a set-screw, which passes throughthe elongated slot h into the head of the sewing-machine, to which theattachment is applied. This plate is made with a projection cut orfashioned to form a point or spear-head, h, upon the opposite sides ofwhich the stud g strikes alternately with every upward movement of themachine needle-bar, causing the bar B to be reciprocated longitudinallyback and forth, and the needle 0 alternately to pass into the cloth andthrough the slot or opening cut in said cloth for the formation of thebutton-holes. I represents a presser foot, made somewhat wider thanusual, having the customary openings 41 11 the latter, however, being anelongated slot instead of the ordinary circular opening. K representsthe throatplate, having a slot, is, through which the feed works, and anelongated slot, R for the passage of the needle. One side of this slotis provided with a half-nipple, H, which serves as a guide or center forthe cloth and a guard for the needle 0. The presser-foot I is formed onits under face with an ofi'set, 6 the object of which is to prevent saidfoot from binding on the cloth at this point, the effect being that thefeed, if the cloth be not guided, will cause the latter to be rotatedaround the needle or guide k so that a stud-hole or the rounded end of abutton-hole will be formed without the operators guiding the cloth atall. To

work the straight edges of a button-hole the cloth must be guided, as,owing to the offset 43 the feed takes hold only of the cloth on causesthe needle to pierce the cloth. When the needle-bar ascends, the needleis withdrawn from the cloth (the stitchhaving been formed bythe passageof the carrier through the loop in the usual manner) until its point isjust clear of said cloth. The stud g now meets the spear-head h, and,pressing against the same, causes the lower end of the lever Gr to bemoved away from the friction-pad D, carrying the lower extremity of thelever F, which turns on its pivot f in the same direction. This movesthe bar B longitudinally, and changes the position of the needlelaterally, so that when it next descends it will not pierce the cloth,as before, but will pass through the slot cut in said cloth for theformation of the button-hole. While the needle is down the carrier formsthe stitch, in the usual manner, and the needle then ascends with theneedle-bar. The stud 9 again meets the spear-head h, but on the sideopposite to that on which it met it on the previous ascent of theneedle-bar, and the bar B is then reciprocated, as in the manner alreadydescribed, but in the contrary direction, restoring it and the needle totheir normal position, so that when said needle again descends it will,as at first, pierce the cloth, and not pass through the button-hole slittherein. The action of the springs e e on the collarf (which is madefast to the pivotal stud g of the lever G, said stud passing through thelever F) has the effect of bringin g the Stud 9 on opposite sides of thespear-head h alternately at each ascent of the needle-bar of themachine. In other words, after the lower end of the lever G is moved, asdescribed, by contact of the stud g with the spear-head h, the plate fis caused to impinge against one of the springs e. The spring soimpinged, reacting, causes the lever G to be moved in the contrarydirection, throwing the stud g on the other side of the center of motionand on the opposite side of the spear-head h, so that when theneedle-bar next ascends, the movement of the lever will be reversed.

Ll are openings, byrmeans of which the thread is carried through theblock A and carrier G, passing, thence through the needle-eye outwardly,so as to avoid springing the needle when it is moved laterally by meansof the bar B.

The presser-foot may have an opening, m. to admit a thread when it isdesired to cord the button-hole and in lieu of the fixed friction pad D,an adjustable screw, working against the side of the bar B, may beemployed.

What I claim as my invention is l. The combination, with thereciprocating needle-bar B, standard E, and spear-head h, of the leverF, pivoted to said standard at f, and the lever G, pivoted to lever F atg, said levers and standard being constructed and provided withmechanism substantially as described, so that the lever G shall bealternately thrown on opposite sides of the spearhead and the properintermittent reciprocating motion imparted to the bar B, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the reciprocating needle-bar B, recessedstandard E,provided with loop or equivalent 6 and spear-head H, of thelevers F and G, constructed and arranged substantially as described,springs e, collarf as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The adjustable plate H, carrying the spear-head h, in combinationwith the head of the machine, the reciprocating needle-bar B, standardE, and intermediate mechanism, substantially as described, for impartingmotion to said needle-bar, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this15th'day of September, 1876.

CHARLES M. BANKS.

Witnesses:

M. DANL. (JoNNoLLY, CHAS. F. VAN HORN.

